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Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: shredso on September 06, 2008, 10:30:16 am

Title: Do I even need my Arcade VGA? Thinking of upgrade
Post by: shredso on September 06, 2008, 10:30:16 am

I've thought about upgrading my MAME machine many times, but always decide against it because my Arcade VGA card is AGP.  I just found a pretty sweet deal on a Dual Core setup and I'm wondering if I even need my AVGA card.  I am using an arcade monitor but I'm not taking advantage of genuine resolutions.  Whenever I change resolutions my monitors vertical (or is it horizontal, I forget) sync goes crazy.  I gave up on the genuine resolution idea and I'm pretty happy with 640x480.  I also plan on upgrading the monitor at some point as the monitor is only 19" and I built the huge Lusid cab.  Are there any features I will miss if I use on board or a cheap video card?  I'm also thinking if I upgrade I would get a multisync that should also work fine with a standard video card.  Any thoughts?

Title: Re: Do I even need my Arcade VGA? Thinking of upgrade
Post by: Jack Burton on September 06, 2008, 03:41:26 pm

According to ultimarc's website, the AVGA is also available in a PCI express version.  So you should be good to go on an upgrade if you want to buy that.


Do you need your AVGA?  Doesn't sound like it to me if you are just going to do 640x480.  Any graphics card can do that, so I wouldn't spend the extra money. 

BUT, I would just keep on trying with the native res's until I got it right.  You should post in the monitor forum about your sync issues and they will help you out.

Title: Re: Do I even need my Arcade VGA? Thinking of upgrade
Post by: retrometro on September 06, 2008, 04:11:45 pm

You should check out soft-15khz from SailorSat.

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=66402.0

Most people that want to go native resolution (including me) are quite happy with this solution.  It's the best of both worlds... getting a video card with the performance and budget you want and still have the lower arcade resolutions and refresh rates.

Here a video of native vs scaled resolutions using soft-15khz.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjKLq-LMgjM[/youtube]

Title: Re: Do I even need my Arcade VGA? Thinking of upgrade
Post by: shredso on September 06, 2008, 04:15:36 pm

I saw that they have a new PCI-E AVGA but the point of my upgrade was to be a cheap quick one.  I could get a new CPU and MB for under $75 and it would be a significant upgrade.